Floating sluice for



UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

M. A. SHEPARD, 0F PARKERSBURG, ILLINOIS.

FLOATING SLUICE FOR MILL-RACES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,204, dated May 8, 1860.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, M. A. SHEPARD, of Parkersburg, in the county of Richland and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Means of Obtaining Taten Power from Running Streams; and I do -hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side sectional View of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of ditto. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of ditto taken in the line ai, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The object of this invention is to obtain from running streams and without a dam a head and fall of water for driving machinery, and at the same time obviate the diiculty hitherto attending the varying height of the water.

The invention consists in the employment or use of a floating race, arranged substantially as hereinafter described, and in connection with a water wheel or water engine to effect the desired end.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A represents the bed of a river or stream, and B, is a sluice which may be constructed of wood or other proper material and of any suitable length and breadth or depth as occasion may require. The sluice B, is slightly inclined, and it is supported by one or more floats or boats C, which rest on the surface of the stream. In the drawings a float or boat C, is shown at the lower, and two at the upper end of the sluice, one at each side. The sluice has traverse bars D, attached to its upper surface, the ends of which are fitted between vertical guide posts E, which are rmly driven into the bed of the stream and retain the sluice in proper position, but, at the same time, admit of the sluice rising and falling with the water of the stream. The upper end of the sluice B, is about on a level with the surface of the stream, but the lower and opposite end is some distance above it according to the length of the sluice. If, for instance, the stream is a rapid one, and the inclination of its bed consequently quick or considerably inclined a considerable fall of water may be obtained with a sluice of moderate length; but, if the stream be a sluggish one a sluice of considerable length will be required in order to obtain much of a fall. This will be fully understood by referring to Fig. l.

On the lower float or boat C, the water wheel F, is placed. A horizontal wheel is represented in Fig. l, but an overshot or a breast wheel may be used. If a horizontal wheel be used its shaft G is allowed to pass loosely through a pulley H, from which the power is taken, the shaft being thereby allowed to rise and fall independently of the pulley H. If an overshot or other wheel, having a horizontal shaft be used, a vertical shaft corresponding to the shaft G, may be connected to the wheel shaft by suitable gearing.

From the above description it will be seen that the eXpense of a dam is avoided and the difliculty attaining the varying heights of streams is avoided, as the sluice B,-which is, in fact, a race,-is allowed to rise and fall with the stream.

The floats or boats may be constructed of wood or metal and of any proper form, and any number may be used, the sluice or race being supported by suitable braces a.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sluice or race B, supported on a running stream by means of suitable floats or boats C, and fitted between upright guides E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. I also claim in connection with the sluice or race B, a vertical shaft G, connected either directly or indirectly with the water wheel and made to pass loosely through the lower pulley H, to admit of the vrising and falling of the shaft G, with the wheel and race, without affecting pulley H.

M. A. SHEPARD.

Witnesses:

DAVID GODDEY, G. F. POWERS. 

